editorNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Richard Gonzales is NPR's National Desk Correspondent based in San Francisco. Along with covering the daily news of region, Gonzales' reporting has included medical marijuana, gay marriage, drive-by shootings, Jerry Brown, Willie Brown, the U.S. Ninth Circuit, the California State Supreme Court and any other legal, political, or social development occurring in Northern California relevant to the rest of the country. Gonzales joined NPR in May 1986. He covered the U.S. State Department during the Iran-Contra Affair and the fall of apartheid in South Africa. Four years later, he assumed the post of White House Correspondent and reported on the prelude to the Gulf War and President George W. Bush's unsuccessful re-election bid. Gonzales covered the U.S. Congress for NPR from 1993-94, focusing on NAFTA and immigration and welfare reform. In September 1995, Gonzales moved to his current position after spending a year as a John S. Knight Fellow Journalism at Stanford University. In 2009,NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Richard GonzalesSun, 25 Mar 2018 22:28:07 +0000Richard Gonzaleshttp://wutc.org
Richard GonzalesInvestigators with Britain's information commissioner searched the London headquarters of Cambridge Analytica on Friday amid reports that the firm harvested the personal data of millions of Facebook users as part of a campaign to influence the U.S. 2016 presidential elections. The move comes after a British High Court judge granted a warrant to the data watchdog Information Commissioner's Office, allowing its investigators to search the firm's offices. The search is reported to be part of a broader investigation into possible ties between Cambridge Analytica and the campaign for the U.K. Brexit referendum. The BBC reports , "Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham has said she was looking at whether personal data was acquired in 'an unauthorised way', whether there was sufficient consent to share the data, what was done to safeguard it and whether Facebook acted robustly when it found out about the loss of the data." The search was conducted by more than a dozen people wearingU.K. Investigators Raid Cambridge Analytica Offices In Londonhttp://wutc.org/post/uk-investigators-raid-cambridge-analytica-offices-london
91800 as http://wutc.orgFri, 23 Mar 2018 23:33:00 +0000U.K. Investigators Raid Cambridge Analytica Offices In LondonRichard GonzalesUpdated at 10:20 p.m. ET Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared open to limited government regulation of some activities of his company, as he fielded questions about reports that Cambridge Analytica exploited Facebook users personal data to influence the U.S. elections. "I'm not sure we shouldn't be regulated," he said on CNN during a rare interview. "I actually think the question is more, what is the right regulation, rather than yes or no, should it be regulated?" Zuckerberg said one area that could be regulated on the Internet is ad transparency. "People should know who is buying the ads that they see on Facebook and you should be able to go to any page and see all the ads that people are running to different audiences," he said. The interview came after Zuckerberg had issued a lengthy post Wednesday on his personal Facebook page promising to protect the data of platform users. He said Facebook will provide users with tools to show who has access to their data and how it is shared.Zuckerberg Breaks Silence, Promises To Protect Facebook Communityhttp://wutc.org/post/zuckerberg-breaks-silence-promises-protect-facebook-community
91683 as http://wutc.orgWed, 21 Mar 2018 21:36:00 +0000Zuckerberg Breaks Silence, Promises To Protect Facebook CommunityRichard GonzalesA Minneapolis police officer is charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the case of an unarmed Australian woman who was shot and killed after calling 911 to report a possible crime. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman told reporters at a news conference that Officer Mohamed Noor killed Justine Ruszczyk Damond, 40, last July as she was approaching the squad car in which he and his partner were sitting, and before he could see the woman's hands. "Officer Noor did not act reasonably, did not act objectively reasonably, and abused his authority to use deadly force," said Freeman. As the Two-Way reported in July 2017, "Transcripts of 911 calls released by the police department on Wednesday showed that Ruszczyk phoned to say she was worried a rape might be taking place outside her home. According to the officer driving the squad car that arrived on the scene, he was startled by a loud noise nearby. After that, Ruszczyk approached the driver's side of the car, andMinneapolis Officer Faces Murder, Manslaughter Charges In Shooting Of Unarmed Womanhttp://wutc.org/post/minneapolis-officer-faces-murder-manslaughter-charges-shooting-unarmed-woman
91630 as http://wutc.orgTue, 20 Mar 2018 23:36:00 +0000Minneapolis Officer Faces Murder, Manslaughter Charges In Shooting Of Unarmed WomanRichard GonzalesPresident Trump visits California Tuesday where he will appear at the U.S.-Mexico border to promote the prototypes of the border wall he has promised to build in his fight against illegal immigration. There will be protests by opponents who oppose construction of the wall, as well as local supporters who say a border wall is exactly what's needed to keep the country safe. The prototypes are being displayed near where there is already about 14 miles of border fencing topped with razor wire. To get a good look at the existing border fence, just go to the San Diego district of San Ysidro, just north of the border with Tijuana. There is a massive premium outlet mall with retail names familiar to any American consumer. "You'll see a lot of pedestrians shop here. This is a regional international shopping center where you'll get international visitors coming to shop here," said David Flores. He works for Casa Familiar, a local non-profit focused on revitalizing the economy of this borderTrump Will Visit U.S.-Mexico Border To Tout Long-Promised Wallhttp://wutc.org/post/trump-visits-us-mexico-border-tout-long-promised-wall
91279 as http://wutc.orgTue, 13 Mar 2018 07:46:00 +0000Trump Will Visit U.S.-Mexico Border To Tout Long-Promised WallRichard GonzalesUpdated at 8:45 p.m. ET The effort by a group of investors to buy the Weinstein Co., founded by the disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, has ended. The collapse of the deal was confirmed in a statement issued Tuesday by Maria Contreras-Sweet, a former Obama administration official. "All of us have worked in earnest on the transaction to purchase the assets of The Weinstein Company. However, after signing and entering into the confirmatory diligence phase, we have received disappointing information about the viability of completing this transaction. "As a result, we have decided to terminate this transaction." A source familiar with the deal told NPR that the "disappointing information" was the revelation of another $50 million-plus of debt, in addition to that previously known by the investors. Another source close to the negotiations said it was a combination of the new information and the worry that more debt could be uncovered later that killed the deal. The Weinstein Co.Deal To Take Over The Weinstein Co. Falls Throughhttp://wutc.org/post/deal-take-over-weinstein-co-dead
91047 as http://wutc.orgTue, 06 Mar 2018 23:32:00 +0000Deal To Take Over The Weinstein Co. Falls ThroughRichard GonzalesUpdated at 5:27 p.m. ET The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that immigrants, even those with permanent legal status and asylum seekers, do not have the right to periodic bond hearings. It's a profound loss for those immigrants appealing what are sometimes indefinite detentions by the government. Many are held for long periods of time — on average, 13 months — after being picked up for things as minor as joyriding. Some are held even longer. The case, Jennings v. Rodriguez , has implications for legal permanent residents whom the government wants to deport because they committed crimes and for asylum seekers who are awaiting a court date after turning themselves in at the border. Immigrant advocates contend that many of these immigrants have a right to be free on bail until their case is heard. But the court wrote in its 5-3 opinion Tuesday, "Immigration officials are authorized to detain certain aliens in the course of immigration proceedings while they determine whether those aliensSupreme Court Ruling Means Immigrants Could Continue To Be Detained Indefinitelyhttp://wutc.org/post/supreme-court-rules-immigrants-dont-have-right-periodic-bond-hearings
90773 as http://wutc.orgTue, 27 Feb 2018 16:00:00 +0000Supreme Court Ruling Means Immigrants Could Continue To Be Detained IndefinitelyRichard GonzalesUnited States Citizenship and Immigration Services is changing its mission statement to eliminate a passage that describes the U.S. as "a nation of immigrants." The agency's new mission statement as it appears on the agency's website reads: "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administers the nation's lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity and promise by efficiently and fairly adjudicating requests for immigration benefits while protecting Americans, securing the homeland, and honoring our values." Here is USCIS's previous mission statement: "USCIS secures America's promise as a nation of immigrants by providing accurate and useful information to our customers, granting immigration and citizenship benefits, promoting an awareness and understanding of citizenship, and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system." The removal of the phrase "nation of immigrants" was announced to agency staff in an email letter from Director L. Francis Cissna. In the letter,America No Longer A 'Nation Of Immigrants,' USCIS Sayshttp://wutc.org/post/america-no-longer-nation-immigrants-uscis-says
90608 as http://wutc.orgThu, 22 Feb 2018 23:18:00 +0000America No Longer A 'Nation Of Immigrants,' USCIS SaysRichard GonzalesA Kentucky teenager faces two counts of murder and 14 counts of first-degree assault in charges stemming from a January 23 shooting at Marshall County High School, in Benton, Ky. Gabriel Ross Parker, a 15-year-old sophmore, will be tried as an adult. His identity had been widely circulated , but it had not been confirmed by authorities until Friday's arraignment. The Courier-Journal reports that bond was set as $1.5 million. Parker is accused of killing two 15-year-old students and injuring 21 others, including 14 who were shot in the early morning attack. He was apprehended immediately after the deadly shooting. Benton, Ky., a town of about 4,000 residents, is 248 miles southwest of Lexington. Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Kentucky Teen Charged With Murder And Assault After January School Shootinghttp://wutc.org/post/kentucky-teen-charged-murder-and-assault-after-january-school-shooting
90376 as http://wutc.orgFri, 16 Feb 2018 23:21:00 +0000Kentucky Teen Charged With Murder And Assault After January School ShootingRichard GonzalesUpdated at 10 p.m. ET The Broward, Fla., sheriff said 17 people are dead in the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the city of Parkland, northwest of Fort Lauderdale. He said a suspect is in custody. In news conferences after the incident, Sheriff Scott Israel said 12 of the people who died were found inside the school building and two were found just outside. Another victim was on the street, and two people died at the hospital. Israel said authorities have identified 12 of those killed in the shooting and are working to identify the rest. He said none of the names and ages of the victims would be disclosed pending notification of their families. However, he did say that one of the deceased was a school football coach and one of the wounded, the son of a deputy sheriff, sustained a non-life-threatening injury. Explaining why identifying the victims has taken some time, the sheriff said they didn't have backpacks or cellphones with them that might have helpedSheriff's Office Reports 17 People Dead In South Florida High School Shootinghttp://wutc.org/post/sheriff-says-suspect-custody-south-florida-high-school-shootings
90255 as http://wutc.orgWed, 14 Feb 2018 21:25:00 +0000Sheriff's Office Reports 17 People Dead In South Florida High School ShootingRichard GonzalesThe CEO of the Humane Society of America, Wayne Pacelle, will keep his job leading one of the nation's largest animal charities despite an internal investigation that identified sexual harassment complaints by three female subordinates and threats by major donors to cut their support. The decision to retain Pacelle by the board of directors, who reviewed the allegations during a seven-hour meeting, has led to the immediate resignation of seven board members in protest. As The Washington Post reports , "The internal investigation, which was conducted by Washington law firm Morgan Lewis last month, detailed the stories of three women who said Pacelle harassed them, with complaints dating to 2005. "The nonprofit group also offered settlements to three other workers who said they were dismissed or demoted after speaking up about Pacelle's alleged sexual misconduct, according to a memo describing the law firm's findings. "Several former female leaders told the law firm that their warningsHumane Society Retains CEO After Sexual Harassment Allegationshttp://wutc.org/post/humane-society-retains-ceo-after-sexual-harassment-allegations
89308 as http://wutc.orgFri, 02 Feb 2018 17:48:00 +0000Humane Society Retains CEO After Sexual Harassment AllegationsRichard GonzalesUpdated at 7:10 pm. ET Former White House political strategist Steve Bannon has stepped down from Breitbart News Network, a conservative website for which he had served as executive chairman. The departure had been widely rumored and anticipated since Bannon was quoted in author Michael Wolff 's new book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, which was critical of President Trump. Breitbart CEO Larry Solov said, "Steve is a valued part of our legacy, and we will always be grateful for his contributions and what he has helped us to accomplish." "I'm proud of what the Breitbart team has accomplished in so short a period of time in building out a world-class news platform," said Bannon. But the end of Bannon's tenure at Breitbart came amid tension between the White House and the former strategist who had fashioned himself as the general leading the rebellion against the GOP establishment on Trump's behalf. Bannon was named executive chairman of Breitbart News in 2012. He joined theSteve Bannon Out At Breitbart Newshttp://wutc.org/post/steve-bannon-out-breitbart-news
88393 as http://wutc.orgTue, 09 Jan 2018 22:32:00 +0000Steve Bannon Out At Breitbart NewsRichard GonzalesIn deciding not to appeal court rulings, the Trump administration has paved the way for transgender people to enlist in the U.S. military starting Monday. The Department of Justice withdrew its legal challenge to several federal court rulings that blocked President Trump from banning transgender people from enlisting in the U.S. armed services. Pentagon spokeswoman Heather Babb said in a statement quoted by Reuters : "As mandated by court order, the Department of Defense is prepared to begin accessing transgender applicants for military service Jan. 1. All applicants must meet all accession standards." In July, President Trump tweeted that the United States "will not accept or allow ... Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity" in the U.S. military. Trump also cited "tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail." That announcement was designed to upend an Obama administration policy that would have allowed transgender enlistees. InU.S. Military To Allow Transgender Recruits After Trump Administration Drops Appealhttp://wutc.org/post/us-military-allow-transgender-recruits-after-trump-administration-drops-appeal
88040 as http://wutc.orgSat, 30 Dec 2017 06:46:00 +0000U.S. Military To Allow Transgender Recruits After Trump Administration Drops AppealRichard GonzalesReality intruded into the land of fantasy—Disneyland, that is—as a failed transformer interrupted power to more than a dozen rides in two areas of the park for about an hour. The power outage which occurred at about 11 a.m. knocked out rides in Mickey's Toontown and Fantasyland, but no one was hurt, according to a Disney spokesperson. An unknown number of holiday visitors were escorted off of the attractions, reports the Los Angeles Times . Park officials said that a majority of the rides were back online within about an hour. Others remain offline, but power is expected to be fully restored by Wednesday, a park official told the Associated Press. The Southern California attraction is at near capacity during the holiday week. Park officials say they do not anticipate ride refunds. Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Disneyland Power Outage Knocks Rides Offlinehttp://wutc.org/post/disneyland-power-outage-knocks-rides-offline
87961 as http://wutc.orgThu, 28 Dec 2017 08:54:00 +0000Disneyland Power Outage Knocks Rides OfflineRichard GonzalesUpdated at 10:55 p.m. ET California fire officials say the massive Thomas Fire has claimed the life of a firefighter. The body of Cory Iverson, a 32-year-old father from Escondido, Calif., was driven out of the fire zone in a procession as firefighters lined the road saluting in respect. "I am very saddened to report that a firefighter fatality has occurred on the Thomas Incident," Chief Ken Pimlott, the director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, tweeted earlier in the day. "Please join me in keeping our fallen firefighter and his loved ones in your prayers and all the responders on the front lines in your thoughts as they continue to work under extremely challenging conditions." Officials said Iverson died north of the town of Fillmore in Ventura County. They released no other details pending an investigation. Iverson had been a firefighter with Cal Fire since 2009. He is survived by his wife, Ashley, who is pregnant, and their 2-year-old daughter. It wasFirefighter Dies in California Wildfire, Now The 4th Largest In The State's Historyhttp://wutc.org/post/firefighter-dies-california-wildfire-now-4th-largest-states-history
87503 as http://wutc.orgThu, 14 Dec 2017 22:48:00 +0000Firefighter Dies in California Wildfire, Now The 4th Largest In The State's HistoryRichard GonzalesHigh-ranking U.S.-based Volkswagen executive Oliver Schmidt has been sentenced to seven years in prison and ordered to pay a $400,000 fine for his part in a decade-long diesel-emissions cheating scandal. Schmidt was the chief of Volkswagen's engineering and environmental office in Michigan. In August, he pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud the federal government and violation of the Clean Air Act by participating in a scheme to circumvent federal emissions tests with rigged devices in diesel cars. Federal regulators uncovered the plot in 2015. Volkswagen already has admitted guilt to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, customs violations and obstruction of justice, as well as violation of the Clean Air Act. The German company has paid more than $20 billion in fines and settlements. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Sean Cox of Detroit, Schmidt acknowledged his guilt. Reading a written statement in court, Schmidt broke down saying, "I made bad decisions and forSenior Volkswagen Executive Sentenced In Diesel-Emissions Scandalhttp://wutc.org/post/senior-volkswagen-executive-sentenced-diesel-emissions-scandal
87182 as http://wutc.orgWed, 06 Dec 2017 23:01:00 +0000Senior Volkswagen Executive Sentenced In Diesel-Emissions ScandalRichard GonzalesUpdated at 8:10 p.m. ET The U.S. Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to fully enforce its revised ban on allowing entry to the United States by residents of eight countries while legal challenges are heard by a federal appeals court. Six of the countries — Syria, Libya, Iran, Yemen, Chad and Somalia — are majority-Muslim nations. The other two are North Korea and Venezuela. The announcement that the high court sided with the administration, which had requested a lifting of lower courts' rulings preventing full enforcement of the travel ban, came in a terse order without explanation of its reasoning. The justices also said that they expect the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to issue its ruling "with appropriate dispatch." Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor were dissenting votes. Two appeals courts, the 9th and 4th circuits, are scheduled to hear arguments in separate cases challenging the travel ban this week. So far, federal judges in Maryland andSupreme Court OKs Trump Travel Ban Pending Lower Court Rulingshttp://wutc.org/post/supreme-court-oks-trump-travel-ban-pending-lower-court-rulings
87069 as http://wutc.orgMon, 04 Dec 2017 22:21:00 +0000Supreme Court OKs Trump Travel Ban Pending Lower Court RulingsRichard GonzalesUpdated at 6:40 p.m. ET A federal court has denied a request for a temporary restraining order sought by an Obama-era appointee seeking to block the Trump administration from assuming control of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly is a victory for President Trump, who appointed White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney to take charge of the CFPB after the resignation of its previous director, Richard Cordray. Cordray had attempted to appoint Leandra English, the CFPB's deputy director, as his successor. That move set the stage for a power struggle with the White House over who will run the federal agency designed to represent consumers in disputes with major financial institutions over issues such as credit cards, checking accounts and debt collections. English sued, asking a judge for an order blocking Mulvaney from taking over the CFPB while the case is adjudicated. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who spearheaded theTrump Wins Opening Round In Legal Battle Over Consumer Watchdog Agencyhttp://wutc.org/post/trump-wins-opening-round-legal-battle-over-consumer-watchdog-agency
86852 as http://wutc.orgTue, 28 Nov 2017 23:44:00 +0000Trump Wins Opening Round In Legal Battle Over Consumer Watchdog AgencyRichard GonzalesCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: Joining the U.S. Army is a goal of many young adults, including several hundred who, as children, were brought to this country illegally. The Trump administration is considering eliminating or scaling back two programs that put them on the path to the military. NPR's Richard Gonzales introduces us to two young men, both hoping to make it to basic training before it's too late. RICHARD GONZALES, BYLINE: Harminder Saini was 6 years old when his parents brought him to the United States from India. The now 20-year-old college history major grew up in Queens, N.Y. HARMINDER SAINI: All these times, you know, growing up doing American things, you know, like celebrating Halloween, or going to the park or - it was just things - everything was normal. GONZALES: Like any American teenager, he hoped to earn some extra cash with his first job. So he asked his parents for his Social Security number. That's when they told him he was in thisThey're Undocumented And Want To Join The U.S. Army Before It's Too Latehttp://wutc.org/post/theyre-undocumented-and-want-join-us-army-its-too-late
86684 as http://wutc.orgThu, 23 Nov 2017 21:40:00 +0000They're Undocumented And Want To Join The U.S. Army Before It's Too LateRichard GonzalesThe head of Puerto Rico's power authority stepped down Friday amid controversy over his handling of a system that still can't deliver electricity to that island two months after Hurricane Maria destroyed the power grid. Ricardo Ramos, executive director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, or PREPA, resigned as he was unable to shake off questions about a $300 million contract that he had awarded to Whitefish, a small Montana-based energy firm, that was supposed to restore power on the island. In prepared testimony at a Senate hearing this week, Ramos said he chose Whitefish because "my priority was securing the immediate assistance that we needed to begin restoring power as quickly as possible to our most critical customer." But reports of price markups and other problems about the firm's ability to do the job continued to dog Ramos. As NPR's Greg Allen reports: "Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rossello last month ordered the head of Puerto Rico's power authority, PREPA, toChief Of Puerto Rico's Power Authority Resigns Under Firehttp://wutc.org/post/chief-puerto-ricos-power-authority-resigns-under-fire
86473 as http://wutc.orgFri, 17 Nov 2017 23:02:00 +0000Chief Of Puerto Rico's Power Authority Resigns Under FireRichard GonzalesCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit ELISE HU, HOST: Five people are dead and 10 injured in what authorities are describing as a shooting rampage in a rural community in Northern California. They're also saying the incident could have been much worse. A gunman opened fire at several different places in the Rancho Tehama community earlier this morning, including an elementary school, before he was killed by authorities. NPR's Richard Gonzales is following this story, and he joins me now. Richard, hello. RICHARD GONZALES, BYLINE: Hi. HU: So from what you've reported, what can you tell us about what happened? GONZALES: Well, it all started around 8 a.m. this morning in a rural community about two hours north of Sacramento. And that's when authorities started getting phone calls about an active shooter and shots being fired at multiple places in Rancho Tehama, including the community's elementary school. And as you mentioned, authorities are saying this could have been much worse. TheCalifornia Shootings Sprang From Domestic Violence, Restraining Orderhttp://wutc.org/post/california-shootings-sprung-domestic-violence-restraining-order
86360 as http://wutc.orgWed, 15 Nov 2017 03:13:00 +0000California Shootings Sprang From Domestic Violence, Restraining Order